A Homeopathic Proving of Candida Parapsilosis

Candida parapsilosis is a common yeastlike organism that has been implicated in human infection. It has been recovered from respiratory secretions, urine, gastric washings, blood, vagina, oropharynx, skin, trans tracheal aspiration, stool, pleural fluid, ear, and nails( 1). It is implicated in the following human infections: endopthalmitis, endocarditis, vaginitis, mycotic keratitis, external otomycosis, paronychia, and fungemia. In the vagina, it is found less frequently than Candida albicans and Torulopsis glabrata and is only rarely associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis as it is a less adherent organism( 2, 3).

Between September 10, 1989 and October 2, 1989, we performed a homeopathic proving of C. parapsilosis.

METHODS

Prover selection and population size. Twenty participants, ages 25-65 years old were recruited to participate in the proving. Prior to entrance to the study each participant was interviewed for any concurrent illness and had a baseline CBC and urine analysis performed. Exclusion criteria also included concurrent use of a homeopathic remedy, any prescription medications, and history of a Candida species infection within the last year. Following the above screening procedures and subsequent dropout of four participants, the final population size was 16 (nine females and seven males).

MEDICATION

A mother tincture of Candida parapsilosis was prepared by Sanum-Kehlbeck GmbH & Co KG in Hoya, West Germany. A 12x dilution of the mother tincture was prepared by Chiron Consultants, Inc. in Calgery, Alberta (Canada). The 12x dilution Was later increased to a 30x dilution by Life-Force Homeopathics in Brea, Cy. The Pharmacy of the Natural Health Clinic of Bastyr College prepared two 2-dram vials, containing #20 lactose pellets, for each participant labelled "tube A" and "tube B" with the participant's code number on each vial. The test medication was randomly placed in either "tube A" or "tube B" for each participant with the other tube containing placebo. The code was retained by the pharmacy until the end of the proving and the participants and the principal investigators were blind to the content of each tube.

PROCEDURE

The proving received the approval of the Institutional Review Board of Bastyr College. Participants meeting entry criteria were asked to sign an informed consent form. They then were instructed in the recording of symptoms and were asked to discontinue the use of any stimulants including caffeine and tobacco.

Participants were then dispensed their "tube A" by the pharmacy of the Natural Health Clinic of Bastyr College and were instructed to take one dose four times daily between meals for seven days. At the end of the first seven day period, participants were instructed to stop their "tube A" and were asked to continue recording their daily symptoms for another five days. At the end of this period, they were asked to report to the principal investigators with their first twelve-day symptom reporting log. Following a brief interview, participants were dispensed their "tube B" with the instructed to take the test medication four times daily for seven days. Another five day, medicine-free recording period followed.

At the conclusion of the second twelve day cycle, participants were asked to return their "tube B" symptom log. Each participant was compensated for their participation in the proving. Participants were also asked to report the unfolding of any other symptoms and were informed that there would be follow-up. Following retrieval of all of the participants logs, the code was broken and given to the participating investigators.